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The "Party for Greg" on November 20th 2004 at Carling Academy Islington sure did old 'Elvis' proud.
Huge thanks to Keith Stallbories and Patricia Ridley for pulling this off - and of course to the musicians who played in the event, who in the words of Pat "did it from the heart" - exactly how it should be. And also, to the audience, whose love for Greg was tangibly in the air, and who came out and supported the event, and with their enthusiasm helped make the evening a major success.
It was a fitting tribute to Greg Ridley - who died almost exactly one year ago.
First up was the Greg Ridley Band - based around the group Greg played with on his his last UK dates. The line-up consisted of Dean Rees on Hammond and vocals, Del Bromham (from the group Stray) resplendent in his bandana and on guitar and vocals, Karl Randall on drums, Steffan John on guitars and Stuart Uren on bass - a really solid line-up.
A fitting start to events was Big George, of course one of Greg's trademark songs - from the Rock On album, and if this got the crowd going then Rocking the Fillmore standards Four Day Creep and Stone Cold Fever finshed the job - and we were already only 15 minutes into the show! Both of these latter songs had also been part of Greg Ridley setlist in his last ever gigs.
Let Me Be Your Lovemaker, again one of Greg's live trademarks, albeit in the 70's, built the set nicely, with its heavy guitar-based verses and the Hammond coming in on the chorus - and then to Wrist Job, which in my view was the highlight not only of set, but probably of the whole evening - with Dean's swooping and swirling organ sound dominating the song - fantastic!
Then came the finale of the set, and it was really superb - firstly Mollie Marriott hit the stage for Black Coffee, which cooled the tempo for a few minutes and introduced the soulful edge of the "Eat It " era, before she was joined by Janette from Spain on backing vocals for Natural Born Bugie. They both wore "The Doctor is Gone" t-shirts which have never looked so good, and this version of Natural Born Bugie really chugged along powerfully behind them!
Dean's vocals throughout the night were impressive - very clear. However for Natural Born Bugie, and the next song I Don't Need No Doctor, from nowhere suddenly Del added lead vocals to his impressive guitar work and very nearly stole the whole show - fabulous!
My friend from Scotland said at this point - "If I had to go to the airport right now and fly home, I'd be happy" and I think that says it better than I can.
Bucket's band then hit the stage. I had witnessed their rehearsals the previous day, where one of my jobs was to sit with a beer and a pen and paper and recall the lyrics to a couple of songs - and I knew from listening to the rehearsals they would be strong.
Immediately Bucket's guitar sound, twinned with ex Quireboy and UFO guitarist Paul Guerin, bounced out from the stage - and the band sounded really tight. They started with C'mon Everybody with Mods John Workman handling the vocals....and driven along by the druming of ex Roger Chapman, Manfred Mann and Company of Snakes man John Lingwood.
They moved quickly into a great version of Thirty Days in the Hole - where everyone let rip - and then one of the finest of many Bucket songs on the 2002 Humble Pie album with Greg Ridley "All I Ever needed was You", and a song that was also part of Greg's live act rigth to the end.
Their set closed with Live to Learn, for which Greg had written the lyrics. It has now been finished after his death and will appear on the forthcoming Greg Ridley Anthology very early in 2005 - a poignant conclusion.
After some speeches and an auction for charity of a Fender Precision bass modeled on Greg's, the final act was based around two Spooky Tooth original members Mike Kellie and Luther Grosvenor. I had seen them in soundcheck and they were red hot as a band, with neither of the above two losing their ability to pound the drums and dazzle the fretboard respectively.
Firstly, they played with singer songwriter Paul Deffurn, on some songs which Greg had again written and recorded before his death, and which are being raved about in terms of a release.
Luther Grosvenor then hit the stage with his vocalist from the Ariel Bender Band and they steamed into Sunshine Help Me, and then a phenomenal version of Better By You, Better Than Me, before closing with an even better Evil Woman. A lot of stagecraft went into these, in addition to a lot of musicianship. Really good.
Luther had regaled us backstage with tales from his whole career - of the VIPs forming into Art and into Spooky Tooth, and his experiences with the band in the USA. Also his time with Mott the Hoople, through many hits, and as the original Ariel Bender, as well as anecdotes about supporting Queen and even being offered the Rolling Stones guitarist slot.
Grosvenor's passion for the stage remains - and ably backed by Kellie's drumming, they encored on Rock Me Baby, originally a BB King song, but popularised by the Jeff Beck Band with Rod Stewart.
Somehow it was fitting that the biggest act in the world today Eminem was playing a surprise gig next door literally 30 yards from this hall - but at the Party for Greg, the air hung heavy with love for the man - and from a really fitting set of music from some of his old colleagues.
We'll miss you Greg..........there are few to touch you !!!!
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